The three sisters, who drowned off the coast of Italy, were part of a larger group attempting to escape dire conditions in their home country. Rescuers from the German charity RESQSHIP reported that the boat had departed from Zuwara, Libya, but faced disastrous conditions shortly after its launch, with waves reaching up to 1.5 meters.
As rescuers worked to save survivors, chaos erupted aboard the overcrowded vessel. Barbara Sartore, a communications coordinator for RESQSHIP, recounted the visceral moment when the reality of the sisters' fate became apparent. Amid panic and darkness, the bodies were located under the water surface while the crew attempted to provide aid to others on the boat.
Among the survivors were three pregnant women and a seven-month-old baby, many of whom suffered severe injuries due to chemical burns from a mix of seawater and petrol. The Italian coastguard assisted in evacuating some survivors, while RESQSHIP continued to provide support.
With the UN agencies reporting over 700 migrant deaths in the central Mediterranean this year, this incident emphasizes the urgent need for increased search and rescue operations and better safeguards for vulnerable individuals undertaking such dangerous journeys.
As rescuers worked to save survivors, chaos erupted aboard the overcrowded vessel. Barbara Sartore, a communications coordinator for RESQSHIP, recounted the visceral moment when the reality of the sisters' fate became apparent. Amid panic and darkness, the bodies were located under the water surface while the crew attempted to provide aid to others on the boat.
Among the survivors were three pregnant women and a seven-month-old baby, many of whom suffered severe injuries due to chemical burns from a mix of seawater and petrol. The Italian coastguard assisted in evacuating some survivors, while RESQSHIP continued to provide support.
With the UN agencies reporting over 700 migrant deaths in the central Mediterranean this year, this incident emphasizes the urgent need for increased search and rescue operations and better safeguards for vulnerable individuals undertaking such dangerous journeys.
